Carbonated beverage dispenser



March 12, 1968 w, SWTH ET AL 3,372,838

CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed May 27, 1966 2 Shets-Sheet 1 /lIra-.42

INVENTOR. JOSEPH WJSMITH CHARLES P. MOTTRAM March 12, 1968 J. w. SMITH EAL 3,372,833

CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed May 27, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. JOSEPH W. SMITH yz BY CHARLES F. MOTTRAM United States Patent3,372,838 CARBONA'IEI) BEVERAGE DISPENSER Joseph W. mith, Trurnhuil, andCharles I. Mottram,

Strattord, (101111., assignors to National Distillers and ChemicaisCorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Virginia Filed May 27,196d, Ser. No. 553,387 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-52) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSUREA carbonated beverage dispenser has an elongated regulator bodycontaining a cylindrical chamber which completely receives acarbon-dioxide cartridge. The open end of the chamber is closed by athreaded plug containing a piercing member which pierces the cartridge.The opposite end of the regulator body receives a threaded spigot withthe threaded spigot and regulator plug passing through openings in aplastic housing including the regulator body. A concentric pair of tubesextend from the regulator body and can puncture a can so that thecentral and long tube extends into the can content and is connected tothe spigot to be dispensed therefrom. The volume between the twoconcentric tubes is connected through a regulating valve to the gas ofthe carbon-dioxide cartridge. The concentric tubes can be adjustablylocated on the cartridge body to pierce either centrally located bungsor off-center located bungs in the can.

This invention relates to a fluid dispensing apparatus, and moreparticularly relates to a novel dispenser device which can be removablyconnected to a beer can, or the like, which is normally keptrefrigerated, for dispensing the contents of the can from a spigot-typemechanism, and for maintaining the can pressurized with carbon-dioxide.

It is well known that draft beer and other beverages should berefrigerated until served. It is further well known that it is desirableto use carbon-dioxide as a propellant for such carbonated beverages.

The present invention is directed to a novel portable dispensingapparatus which may be connected to cans having bung openings located atvarious portions of the top of the can, and which can be easily cleanedand stored when not in use.

In addition, the novel dispenser of the invention can be connected to acan and placed in a refrigerated compartment with the can until the cancontents are completely empty.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel dispenserfor carbonated beverages which is attractive in appearance, etficient inoperation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel dispenser forcarbonated beverages which includes a self-contained carbon-dioxidecartridge, and which includes an adjustable connector structure whichcan be connected to variously located bung openings in cans.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel dispenser forcanned carbonated beverages which has substantially no drip after adispensing spigot is closed.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing description when taken in connection with the drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a side plan view of the dispensing head of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of FIGURE 1 as seen from the left-hand side ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2 taken across the line 4-4in FIGURE 2 to illustrate the internal construction of the dispenser,with the dispenser connected to a can having a centrally located bung.

FIGURE 5 is a top view of a typical can adapted to be stored in arefrigerated compartment with a centrally located bung, and illustratesin dotted lines an alternative position for the bung.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken across the line 6-6 in FIGURE 4to illustrate the cross-section configuration of the dispenser body.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the sliding member which carries the bungpiercer and tube of the dispensing apparatus.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of an unpierced bung constructed inaccordance with the present inven tion.

Referring first to FIGURES 4 and 5, there is illustrated therein a can10 which is commercially available and could be of the one gallon sizecontaining draft beer, or some other carbonated beverage. In somecommercially available cans, there is provided a centrally located bung11 which is a solid, flexible member serving as a closure for a can.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the bung 11 isconstructed, as illustrated in FIGURE 8, with a central membrane 12extending across a channel 13 which will receive a bung piercer carriedby the dispens ing apparatus to gain access to the interior of the can.The bung 11 of FIGURES 4, 5 and 8 is connected to the can opening byforcing the tapered bottom portion 14 of bung I1 through the opening inthe can until the edges of the opening enter the annular groove 15 ofbung 11, causing an effective seal around the can opening.

As illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 5, a can may also be providedwith abung 16 which is located at the side of the can. As will beapparent from the foregoing, the novel dispenser of the invention isadjustable for connection to either type of bung II or 16 in FIGURE 5.

The novel dispenser of the invention is comprised of a suitable housingsuch as a plastic housing 20 which has openings 21 and22 (FIGURE 4) atits opposite ends for receiving the dispensing apparatus. The dispensingapparatus is best shown in FIGURE -4, and includes a regulator body thathas an opening 31 in its righthand side (FIGURES 4 and 6).

It will be noted from FIGURE 6 that body portion 30 may be square inconfiguration, although it will be apparent that any suitableconfiguration could have been used.

FIGURE 6 illustrates that opening 31 is circular to conform to theexterior shape of a standard commercially available carbon-dioxidecartridge 32 which is inserted into opening 31 in body 30. Theright-hand end of body 30 is provided with internal threads 33 whichthreadably receive a piercer 34 which extends through opening 22 inplastic housing 20. The piercer 34 carries a pointed member 35internally thereof so that when the piercer 34 is threaded into thread33, the piercing body 35 will pierce the diaphragm in the right-hand endof the carbon-dioxide cartridge 32 to release high pressurecarbon-dioxide gas into the chamber enclosed by opening 31.

The left-hand end of opening 31 in body 30 is provided with athrough-opening which has a threaded end 41 which threadably receives avalve core member 42. The valve core member 42 may be of any desiredtype and has a projecting stem 43 which will open the valve when stem 43is sufiiciently depressed.

The extreme left-hand end of body 30 is then provided with an outwardlyflaring flange 45 which is internally threaded with threads 46. Apressure diaphragm 47 is inserted into the bottom of circular fiange 45against a shoulder stop at the bottom of flange 45. A lock nut 48 thenretains diaphragm 47 in position, as shown.

A threaded washer 50 is then threaded into thread 46 and compressesspring 52 between washer t) and diaphragm 47, the spring 52 serving as areference in the pressure regulator to be described. Thereafter, aspigot body 60 is threaded through opening 21 and into threads 46. Thespigot body 60 carries a pushbutton 61 which is connected to a shaft 62which operates valve 63 against spring 64 captured between valve 63 andthreaded inser 65.

The valve 63 permits communication between channel 70 which leads to theinterior of the can It), as will be described, and the outlet channel 71through which liquid is dispensed when the pushbutton 61 is depressed.Note in FIGURE 2 that the spigot 60 is provided with finger depressions72 and 73 so that the spigot can be conveniently gripped between theindex and third finger and the pushbutton 61 depressed with the thumb.

A slider Stl (FIGURES 4 and 7) has an internal opening 81 which has ashape conforming to the external shape of body 30 and slides along theelongated portion of body 30. Slider 80 has a bung piercer 85 connectedto the bottom thereof as by welding, and has a lower elongated openingwhich receives the upper end of tube 86, again as by welding.

The tube 86 is coaxial with bung piercing tube 85, and has an outerdiameter smaller than the inner diameter of bung piercer 85 to define anannular channel 90. The channel 90 then extends to a channel 91 whichpasses laterally through body 80, as shown in FIGURE 5, while theinterior of tube 86 is connected to a second lateral channel 92extending through slider 80. Channel 90 is preferably a close tolerancepassage to control the rate at which gas can enter can and to prevent asudden outrush of gas it, for any reason, the dispenser is removed fromthe can before its contents, or the cartridge is consumed.

A flexible conduit 98 is then suitably connected to channel 91 andconnects channel 91 to the volume contained between pressure diaphragm47 and the bottom of circular flange 45. Channel 92 in slider 80 issimilarly connected by a suitable conduit 95 to the volume betweenspigot valve 63 and insert 65. Thus, this volume is connected throughshaft 86 to the interior of the can, while the pressure at the top ofthe can is connected to the volume behind pressure diaphragm 47. Thissame volume is connected to the interior of opening 31 containingcartridge 32 through the valve core 42. Note that a suitable checkvalve, not shown, can be contained in channel 91.

The slider 80 is then held in position on the regulator body 30 by meansof a spring biased plunger 100 which engages detent 101 in body 30. Notein FIGURE 7 that plunger 100 is pressed upwardly when the slider isremoved from body 30. The plunger 100 is received in detent 101 when theslider 80 is to be positioned for a centrally located bung 11.

Where, however, the can has an offset center-located bung 16, as shownin FIGURE 5, the slider 80 is moved to the right with the plunger 100entering detent 102 in the surface of body 30. Thus, the slider, alongwith spout 86, are automatically properly located for the particular canto which the dispensing apparatus is to be connected.

In order to now connect the dispensing apparatus to the can, the tube 86and bung piercer 85 are inserted through the top of the bung 11 wherethey will pierce diaphragm 12, shown in FIGURE 8, to gain access to theinterior of the can.

Once the piercer 85 enters the bung 11, it has been found thatrelatively good mechanical connection is obtained between the dispenserand the can. However, in order to improve this mechanical connection, ithas been found further desirable to provide spring latches such asspring latches 110 and 111, as shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, which aresecured to the base of the molded body 20. The spring latches 110 and111 each have protruding tongues 112 and 113, respectively, which catchover the lip of the can, thereby to insure a positive mechanicalengagement between the dispenser and the can.

In operation, the dispenser is connected to a can by insertion of tubes86 and 95 through the can bung. A carbon-dioxide cartridge 23 is thenplaced into opening 31 and the piercer 34 is threaded into position onthreads 33 until the piercing device 35 breaks the diaphragm at the endof the cartridge. This permits the cartridge pressure to fill thechamber defined by opening 31. The pressure from the interior of the canis then applied to channel and into the chamber defined to the right ofpressure diaphragm 47.

If this pressure to the right of diaphragm 47 is lower than somepredetermined value, the spring 52 will press diaphragm 47 to the rightto engage and depress pin 43 in valve core 42. This will open thechannel from the opening 31 to permit pressurized carbon-dioxide gas toenter the chamber to the right of diaphragm 47 and to flow from therethrough conduit 93 into the can. Once the pressure at the top of the canreaches the predetermined desired value, pressure diaphragm 47 will bepressed to the left against the force of spring 52 and the valve core 42will close.

Assuming now that there is suificient pressure in the can, in order tooperate the dispenser, button 61 in spigot 69 is depressed to openspigot valve 63. The pressurized can contents will then flow up tube 86through conduit through valve 63 and out channel 71. In order to cut offthis flow, the spigot button 61 is released and valve 63 is closed.

Note that the system will operate in such a manner that the can pressurewill always be that desired value which is set by the force of spring 52with the can automatically receiving high pressure carbon-dioxide gaswhen the can pressure falls below some predetermined value.

Although this invention has been described with respect to its preferredembodiments, it should be understood that many variations andmodifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it ispreferred, therefore, that the scope of the invention be limited not bythe specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege orproperty is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A carbonated beverage dispenser apparatus comprising an elongatedregulator body, an elongated cylindrical chamber extending into one endof said elongated regulator body; a high pressure carbon-dioxidecartridge fixed within said cylindrical chamber; said cylindricalchamber having a length greater than the length of said cartridge; athreaded plug member threaded into the end of said cylindrical chamberand sealing said end of said cylindrical chamber; a piercing membercentrally located on the surface of said plug member facing saidcylindrical chamber; said carbon-dioxide cartridge having a pierciblediaphragm adjacent said piercing member; a conduit support structuremechanically connected to said elongated regulator body; first andsecond elongated hollow tubes extending from said conduit supportstructure; said second tube having a short length with respect to saidfirst tube and defining a bung piercer; said second tube externallyconcentric with said first tube and defining an annular channel betweensaid first and second tubes; said conduit support structure having firstand second channels therethrough; said first channel communicating withthe interior of said first tube; said second channel communicating withsaid annular channel; said cylindrical chamber having a third channelextending therefrom through said elongated regulator body; a pressureregulator; said third channel connected to said second channel throughsaid pressure regulator; a spigot outlet and a manually operable valvein said spigot outlet for mannaly opening and closing said valve; saidfirst channel connected to said spigot outlet; said spigot outletconnected to the other end of said regulator body; a housing extendingover the top and sides of said regulator body; said threaded plug memberand said spigot extending through openings in the opposite end sides ofsaid housing; said first and second tubes extending from the unclosedbottom of said regulator body.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 which includes can lip latch meansconnected to the bottom of said opposite end sides of said housing.

3. A carbonated beverage dispenser apparatus comprising an elongatedregulator body, a cylindrical chamber extending into one end of saidelongated regulator body; a high pressure carbon-dioxide cartridge fixedwithin said cylindrical chamber; a threaded plug member threaded intothe end of said cylindrical chamber and sealing said end of saidcylindrical chamber; a piercing member centrally located on the surfaceof said plug member facing said cylindrical chamber; said carbon-dioxidecartridge having a piercible diaphragm adjacent said piercing member; aconduit support structure mechanically connected to said elongatedregulator body; first and second elongated hollow tubes extending fromsaid conduit support structure; said second tube having a short lengthwith respect to said first tube and defining a hung piercer; said secondtube externally concentric with said first tube and defining an annularchannel between said first and second tubes; said conduit supportstructure having first and second channels therethrough; said. firstchannel communicating with the interior of said first tube; said secondchannel communicating with said annular channel; said cylindricalchamber having a third channel extending therefrom through saidelongated regulator body; a pressure regulator; said third channelconnected to said second channel through said pressure regulator; aspigot outlet and a manually operable valve in said spigot outlet formanually opening and closing said valve; said first channel connected tosaid spigot outlet; said conduit support structure being slidable withrespect to the axis of said regulator body and latchable into apredetermined position along said regulator body whereby said. dispenserapparatus can be connected to cans having different bung locations.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,367,077 1/1945 Ward 2223992,376,052 5/1945 Hacmac 222400.7 X 2,571,433 10/1951 Fine et al.222400.7 X 3,065,883 11/1962 Nelson 222-399 X 3,150,799 9/1964 Flynn222-52 3,291,343 12/1966 Tracy et al 222-52 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, PrimaryExaminer.

